Gas stations in Lebanon are facing a major technical problem with their gas pumps after the latest hike in fuel prices.
Despite the Energy Ministry’s announcement of the new prices, gas stations have remained closed because their digital gas pumps are not capable of displaying five-digit numbers, according to local media.
According to the new prices, which saw a 60% increase for gasoline and 66% for diesel fuel, a liter of gasoline currently sells at around 10,000 Lebanese pounds.
Such a value cannot be displayed on some gas pumps, which has forced stations facing this problem to remain closed, according to reports by local news outlets.
This problem is a less expected consequence of the paralyzing economic crisis enveloping Lebanon today.
A more anticipated outcome that is expected soon is the abolishment of the state’s subsidization of gasoline, which would unleash fuel prices and peg them at the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar on the black market.
These developments come as Lebanon surpasses Venezuela and Zimbabwe to become the country with the highest inflation rate in the world.
